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BOOK FITTING
Unique ID: KENT-82A6ED
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
A acomplete late Medieval or early Post-Medieval copper alloy-book clasp, dating to c.AD 1450 - 1600.
Description: The clasp is formed from a thin rectangular strip of metal with one end expanded into a fishtail shape, and with an integral projecting hook at the other. On the upper surface are three irregularly sized holes. Near the strap attachment end are two copper-alloy rivets projecting to the reverse. On the underside there appears to be a backing plate of copper-alloy which is slightly smaller attached to the forward rivet and not project much out. The gap between the two plates widens towards the flaring end creating a space to fit the clasp onto the covers of the book. The underside is flat and undecorated.
Dimensions: Length 57.26mm, width 13.74mm at the midsection (26.32mm at the fishtail end) thickness 3.78mm at the midsection (6.08mm at the fish tail end), weight 13.99g.
Discussion: The form is typical of book clasps of the late Medieval to early Post-Medieval period, as discussed by Margeson (1993: 74). Many similar example can be seen on the PAS database - DOR-C1AF3D; HAMP-FC680A and SUSS-84ADAD.
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
Subperiod from: Late
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Subperiod to: Middle
Period to: POST MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1450
Date to: Circa AD 1600
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 57.26 mm
Width: 13.74 mm
Thickness: 3.78 mm
Weight: 13.99 g
Personal details
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Materials and construction
Spatial metadata
Region: South East (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Kent (County)
District: Maidstone (District)
Parish or ward: Otterden (Civil Parish)
Spatial coordinates
4 Figure: TQ9454
Four figure Latitude: 51.25216061
Four figure longitude: 0.77859517
1:25K map: TQ9454
1:10K map: TQ95SW
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 100 metre square.
References cited
| Author | Publication Year | Title | Publication Place | Publisher | Pages | Reference | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Margeson, S. | 1993 | Norwich Households: Medieval and Post-Medieval Finds from Norwich Survey Excavations 1971-78 | Norwich | East Anglian Archaeology |
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Timeline of associated dates
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